Suit says Biomet ignored defects in hip replacement

PARKERSBURG – A Wood County couple are suing Biomet after they claim it misrepresented that its M2a Magnum Hip System was safe when it had knowledge of the system’s defects.

Biomet Orthopedics was also named as a defendant in the suit.

On July 8, 2008, Greg West underwent a surgical procedure to implant the M2a Magnum Hip System into his hip, according to a complaint filed Feb. 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia's Parkersburg Division.

West claims the M2a Magnum Hip System was defective and it failed, which caused him severe pain.

On Oct. 15, West underwent a complex, risky and painful surgery to remove the failed M2a Magnum Hip System from his body, according to the suit.

West claims revision surgeries are generally more complex, usually take longer to be done and have a higher rate of complications than original hip surgeries.

Having to go through a revision surgery has subjected West to much greater risks of future complications that he had before the revision surgery, according to the suit.

West claims at the time of his original surgery in 2008, there had already been more than 100 reports of adverse events associated with the M2a Magnum filed with the FDA and Biomet knew that the product was defective.

Biomet refused to disclose the information to West, his physicians or the public and instead, misrepresented to West and his orthopedic surgeon that the M2a Magnum was safe and effective, according to the suit.

West and his wife, Susan West, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Harry F. Bell Jr. and Daniel C. Burke.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia-Parkersburg Division case number: 6:13-cv-2217